We (Steve, Jackie and I) went to the International Holiday - Food from Around the World @ The Edgecliff last night. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, I thought a happy hour type thing but actually it was an open house for the condos they had available. But I was glad I went for one big reason, Skillman design, who is remodeling our bathrooms at Parker Flats did the baths in two of the units and I loved them.

We were on the 17th floor I think and this TV was big enough for me know they were watching basketball. But not big enough to know the teams.

I don't know why the other people wandering around looked at us like we were dorks or something.Love that faucet.

I've always loved tree houses.Don't know if its a guy thing or not, but that feeling of isolation, away from the whole world, away from it all. Or maybe its the fort thing, your own castle high on the mountain?Either way this would be very cool, I can imagine having this built behind one of the billboards over looking 71 southbound into the city.How cool would that be? A string of Aeroform condos built along Fort Washington Way. Or would Covington beat Cincinnati to the punch and begin building them along 75 south all the way up to the cut in the hill?Interesting.

TheScientist named the University of Cincinnati as the 39th best place to work in academia. But remember that doesn't include the rank and file, only America hating liberal professors. Still, its good publicity for the University and city.

And I can't make it on my ownBecause my heart is in Ohio- HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS

Local band Hawthorne Heights guitarist Casey Calvert passed away Friday (Nov. 23)Bummer, I like their stuff, a tiny bit angry and the first album had maybe too much screaming, but I hope they carry on.

Hmmm, while the rest of the world gets the sophisticated, stylish, deipnosophist Jackie.I get the no makeup, ponytailed, pajama snuggled under a blanket and sleeping Jackie.I was really tempted to snap some pictures of Ms. 5chw4r7z and her sleeping, but the beating really wouldn't have been worth it.

If you make it to the Short North in Columbus, don't pass up Bodega. The food was awesome and they have 54 different beers on tap. The Harpoon Winter Warmer is spicy, has hints of cinnamon and nutmeg and everytime I took a sip I imagined it would taste awesome warm. But probably not.

It’s no surprise the companies pay massive amounts of money to build, maintain and defend brand names. I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of the price for many products was the cost of the brand name. Sometimes you find generics that are just as good. Once, we bought a lot of wireless cards shipped into the country and sold before the Cisco labels were applied, a fast 75% discount. In that spirit Lou from JR Cigars bought an entire warehouse of cigars in the Honduras before the labels had been added, all of these smokes were destined to be premium branded, handmade cigars, but instead they were packed up in 50-cigar kraft paper wrapped bundles. No label, no $$ for the brand name, and if you know anything about cigars the name can add $5+ on up to the price. That’s the main reason I buy on taste and not what name is on the cigar. Whatever, these things are awesome, Big Mike is gonna crap we he gets to Cincinnati next weekend and fires one these puppies up.

Anyone moving into the old Bella location was going to have some pretty big shoes to fill. But it looks like Nada is going to have the decor covered if nothing else. Their food better be off the charts.Bella was the very first place in Cincinnati Ms. 5chw4r7z and I ate. We rolled into town, I had a job interview, we checked into the Millennium Hotel and walked down to Bella and ate, figured we'd live it up because it was the first and maybe last time we'd ever be in Cincinnati. Needless to say, they liked me and here we are.

If you haven't been to the Square in a few days the barriers are all gone now, I'd say the Square is basically finished, with only some work needed on the facade of the 5/3rd Bldg. What an awesome night last night, saw tons of people out I knew and the ones I didn't were all in a friendly talkative mood. Lots of workers out finishing up the last of the Christmas decorations.

We haven't been to a movie since last March, we couldn't remember why until we actually tried to go and friends invited us out to dinner. Oh yeah, there's just so much going on downtown it takes focus and determination to go to a movie, which Ms. 5chw4r7z had last Saturday. Michael Clayton, it was a pretty good drama, worth checking out if you have a some free time. It strecthed a little in a couple places, would a high powered attorney borrow money from the mob? But otherwise was very well acted in all parts, exspecially Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson who in his sickness swung between lunacy and brilliant clarity. The only thing I found odd is throughout the movie we were repeatedly told that Michael Clayton is a "fixer" but we never saw him fix anything.

As you know, I’m relatively new to Cincinnati and really don’t know anything about Joe. I heard some good stories this weekend from friends who do though. The real shame is I have to believe in Corporate America guys like Joe are going to be fewer and farther between.